BREL109 - IFE

BREL109
The Word of God

ECTS Value: 5 ECTS

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

As a teacher of Religious Education, it is important to have sound knowledge of the Scripture – the Word of God. Students in our classes must be helped to understand better the way God has communicated to man throughout human history, especially through the Scripture. A serious study of God’s Word alongside other committed students may help participants to establish a biblical and theological foundation that is indispensable to an effective Christian life and witness. It is of crucial importance that participants explore possible answers to crucial and existential questions in the light of the Bible, like: How can I learn to see all of my life through a biblical lens? Why does that particular unfair, problem, situation, etc, matter to me, to my Christian community and to everyone with whom I will meet along life’s way? The Old Testament contains narratives about people, places and events that are far removed from us in time and cultural context, and this fact can make it feel as foreign territory. However, during this module, participants are given the opportunity to understand how God’s revelation to the people of Israel speaks to us today as well. The New Testament is a record of the historical events, that is the ‘good news’ events of the saving life of Our Lord Jesus Christ—His life, death, Resurrection, Ascension and the continuation of His work in the world by Christians. All this is explained and applied by the apostles whom He chose and sent into the world to proclaim the good news. It is also the fulfilment of the sayings and events anticipated a long time before by the Old Testament. Like the Old Testament, it was written under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means that it is protected from spiritual error and possesses divine authority for the Church today and throughout the rest of human history until the Lord Himself returns.

For this reason, participants will be given the opportunity to analyse texts in the New Testament, and through these texts they explore in greater depth the life and teachings of Jesus, the letters of Paul, and the beginning and growth of the Early Church. Thus, participants will be equipped for lifelong engaged study of the Bible, and for service to the Church in any vocation or ministry to which they are called.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Appreciate, explain and show God’s love to humanity in various ways;
b. Understand systematically key aspects of Salvation History, in which God is the major person moulding man’s path;
c. Analyse narratives of the life of Christ, harmonising the four Gospel accounts and placing events in approximate chronological order;
d. Interpret correctly specific teachings and events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ;
e. Explain the differences between similar passages in different Gospels; f. evaluate the meaning of the Bible and interpret it for his/her life.

Knowledge

a. Demonstrate a good general knowledge of the structure of the books of the Holy Scripture and their classifications and of the content of the two Testaments;
b. Recognize how the Old Testament is marked by unity in its themes, regardless of the great diversity in the material;
c. Reflect on and convey to others the message of Genesis 1 and 2 – God’s gift of life;
d. Explore the dynamics of God’s call as found in the narratives of Samuel and Jeremiah in the Old Testament , and the Virgin Mary and Saint Paul in the New Testament;
e. Explore, through the witness and commitment of individuals and communities, how the Gospels can encourage and influence him/her to share God’s love, caring and faithfulness towards others;
f. Express in various ways, especially through Biblical narratives, the human quest and search for God e.g. as in Job 42:1-5, Psalm 42, Deut 4:29, Jer 29:12-13 and Mt 7:7-8.

Skills

a. Give students an understanding and appreciation of the Word of God and its application to life;
b. Succeed in understanding that God is the Creator of any living or existing thing;
c. Analyse the great dignity of man due to the fact that he is created inthe image of God;
d. Explore the meaning of the Biblical creation narratives and reflect on and discuss about how these narratives are being perceived in our modern society;
e. Analyse the message and meaning of the Biblical narratives where God calls somebody for a particular mission, just as he does even nowadays;
f. Expand the fact that the Old Testament is fulfilled by the coming of Christ and it anticipates His coming as a suffering and glorified Saviour;
g. Explore how one can internalize the messages of both Testaments as two Pacts between God and humankind (the rebellion of man against God which rebellion is met by God’s mercy and by his promise of a Saviour for mankind. It is by following this Saviour and by his help that one can
achieve peace with God, peace with others, internal peace and peace with creation).

Mode of Delivery

This module adopts a blended approach to teaching and learning. Information related to the structure and delivery of the module may be accessed through the IfE Portal. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures found on the Institute for Education’s website.

Assessment Methods

This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.